FENDALL, Louisianan – Results for the second entrance recently released by the administration of the state-run University of Liberia has shown unfavorable results for more than 3,000 candidates, who were opting to pursue undergraduate studies.
Report by Willie N. Tokpah, [email protected]
A total of 5,834 from all programs including undergraduate, graduate and professional school were qualified by the university to sit the second entrance exams and aptitude tests.
Of the number, 4,880 of that number were seeking admission to the undergraduate program.
UL Vice President for Public Affairs, Atty. Norris Tweah, told reporters over the weekend that a little over 1,836 passed from the total 4,880 undergraduate candidates, who sat the 2018/2019 exams and aptitude tests.
However, 3,183 candidates were unsuccessful after scores were tabulated from all colleges including the David A. Straz-Sinje Technical and Vocational College and the College of General Studies.
“The results of the University of Liberia 2018/19 second entrance exams and aptitude tests administered to 5,834 candidates seeking admission in the University’s undergraduate colleges and graduate and professional schools have been released and can be accessed via the University’s website,” said Att’y Tweah.
According to him, results from the university’s Graduate School shows that 200 out of 274 candidates scored at least 40 percent and above and are eligible for consideration into the University’s graduate programs.
At the same time, Tweah noted that results from the School of Pharmacy also shows that nine candidates out of 18 met the School’s passing threshold and are now eligible to enter phase two of the admission process.
He furthered that results of the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law show that 31 candidates out of 86 met all the requirements for admission next semester.
“Based on the results, the UL Faculty Senate on Friday, 14 September, approved four categories: Regular Pass, Provisional Pass, Unsuccessful and Absentee categories to determine admission and non-admission to the University of Liberia,” Tweah averred.
“To be in the Regular Pass category, candidates must have scored at least 50 percent in Mathematics and at least 70 percent in English or scored at least 50 percent in Mathematics and less than 70 percent in English. A total of 1,190 candidates met this threshold and are now qualified for admission to the University of Liberia. Regular Pass candidates may register for up to 18 credit-hours during their first semester in a college of the University of Liberia.”
According to the UL Vice President for Public Affairs, candidates must have obtained an average score of at least 50 percent when their Mathematics and English scores are combined in order to qualify for provisional pass category.
He said 646 candidates met said threshold and were qualified for provisional admission at the UL.
These candidates according to him are restricted to register for not more than 12 credit-hours during their first semester in a college at the University of Liberia, adding that the credit hours must include Freshman Mathematics (101) and Freshman English (101).
Tweah explained that results from the David A. Straz-Sinje Technical and Vocational College show 32 candidates making the break with regular pass while 16 candidates obtained provisional pass.
Similarly, he added, results from the College of General Studies show 17 candidates obtaining regular pass and 18 candidates obtaining provisional pass.
“Therefore, when the regular and provisional scores are combined for all undergraduate colleges, including Straz-Sinje and the College of General Studies, a total of 1,836 candidates passed the second (August 2018) UL Entrance and Placement Examination and are eligible for admission next semester,” Tweah opined.
“While a total of 3,183 candidates were unsuccessful and are not eligible for admission at any time in the University of Liberia. Of this number, 3,057 candidates failed to gain admission in the undergraduates division, while 31 and 95 candidates did not qualify for admission to the Straz-Sinje and College of General Studies respectively.”
Counselor T. Negbalee Warner, Dean of the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law, who chaired this year’s Testing Committee lauded members of the Committee for their individual and collective support, saying, “The results of the exam and aptitude test reflect the committee’s consensus, the university’s integrity, and can be more than adequately defended by the entire University.”
Chairman Warner then emphasized that the lessons learned from this year’s exam and aptitude test would be incorporated into the future to engender efficiency and improved service delivery.